Electric outlet receptacle



Jam. 12', 1 932. c. NEWMAN ET AL v 1,840,734

i ELECTRIC OTLET RECEPTCLEy Filed July 5, 1928 Patented Jan. 12,1932

L UNITED; STATE-s PATENT oFFlcr-z cuantas or' :nw Yonai,l Y., Aim manera. mmol, or cmcaeo, rumors, AssrGNons 'ro Rosen-unmounsNUr-sc'runnm conm. or omesso, rumors, A conroiwrxon or `rumors m OUTLEE WAM application mea my s, im. semi ne. :sos-ra The present invention relates to improvements in electric outletreceptacles.

More particularly the present invention relates to electric outlet receptacles such as are used in electric house wirlng systems for receivn the electric wires and providin receptac es for the connections between sai wires and the terminals of an electric fixture.

This ap lication is a' continuation .as to lo lcommon su ject matter of an a lication liled by the same applicants on eptember 12, 1927, bearing Serlal No. 218,933, for Electric outlet receptacles. 4

Commonly, the electric outlet receptacles which are in use provide mountin means for electric fixtures, and one of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide -an electric outlet receptacle which provides an adjustable thoug rigid support for an electric fixture as well as a convenient support for the electric wires leading to said fixtures and the loom or kconduit commonly used. for pro-l tecting such wires. Y

A further object is to provide an electric g5 outlet receptacle which is cheap to manufacture and which provides ready adjustability of the fixture supporting means.

A further object is to provide an electric outlet' receptacle which 1s well adapted to o meet the needs of commercial service.

Further objects will appear as the descrip.- tion proceeds.

Referring. to the drawings-` Figure 1 1s a view in front elevation of one embodiment of the present invention having secured thereto .supporting earsA which are.

shown in' cooperative relationship with la wall stud;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1, the wall studs being omitted for purposes of clarity;

Figure 3 is'a sectional Vview of an enlarged scale taken alonthe plane indicated bythe arrows 3?-3 o'f igure 1; l l j Figure 4 isa sectional view taken along the lane indicated by the arrows H ofv Figure 5 isa view of a blank which may be used in shaping up the box or receptacle shown in the preceding figures;

Fi re 6 is a view in perspectivebf a pre-vv which outer face is indicated in Figure 7 by` the ,numeral 13. The numeral 14 indicates an electric xture or bracket. Such a brackf et commonly includes a dshed portion 15,

adapted to rest u nf the outer face 13 of the 'plaster and to h' e from view the switch box 11 andl adjacent parts of the plaster. lSaid fixture or bracket is also provided with the socket ortion 16 for the reception of a com- 'lov merciaPtype of electric socket such as is commonly used for the reception of electric*4 lam s, electric plugs and similar devices.

e receptacle is rovided with knock-nts 17-17,'through w ich electric house wires may be brought into the receptacle. Said electric house wires will be connected to an electric socket within the socket portion 16 of the bracket 14 throu h short connecting wires, in accordance wlth the usual practice. According to. common practice, sucient slack will be provided in the wires extending from the switch box 11 to the electric device' within the socket portion 16 whereb the nec# essary splicing may be accomplish and the slack wires yhidden within the switch box 11.

' The brackets or fixtures 14 as commonly provided come in varying ,de thsinsofar as tlfe dishedporti'on 15 thereof 1s concerned. The

resent invention contemplates means wherey a bracket 14 may be supported by the switch'box 11 throughout a relatively wide range ofregions along said switch box and which willl accomodate various depths of the bracket referred to. L

Referring toFigure 5, the numeral 18 indicates a sheet metal blank having the substantially rectangular portion 19, bounded lll ' ported within 32 adapted to receive the by the broken lines -20. Outside of the broken lines'26-20 are the side wing portions 21--21 of the end wingportions 22-22. 'I he side edgesv and said wing portions 21--21 'and 22-22 are provided with fingers 23-23.

Symmertically disposed relative to certain' 23-23 may be bent over adjacent walls, as illustrated in Figurs 1, to hold said walls in rigid relationship with one another. When the wings 21-21 and 22--22 are bent up to form the receptacle 11, the portion 18 thus becomes the bottom wall of the receptacle, thel wings 22-22 thus become the end walls of the receptacle, and the wings 21--21 become the side walls thereof. Each of the side walls l21-21 is provided with an elongated slot 24 arallel with 'and preferably equally spaced 'fi rom the bottom wall 18. y

The numerals 25-25 indicate clamping members having bowed portions 26-26 adapted to cooperate with a tubular conduit or loom enclosing the electric house wires. Screws 27 are provided, threadedv into correspondin holes in the switrh box 11, for holding said clampin members in clamping relationship with sai loom or conduit,

The numeral 28 indicates a bridging member which in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is of substantially U form, the arallel side legs 29-29 of which are spacedp apart slightly less than the distance between the side walls 21--21 of the switch box 11. Extending from the extremities Iof the side legs 29-29 are the fin ers 30-30 adapted to extend through the s ots 24--24. As shown in Fi ure 4, said fingers 30-30 are adapted to be n t down into enagelnent with the side walls 21-21 where- 'y the bridginflr member 28 is slidably suptlhe switch box 11.

The top portion of the bridging member 28 has the cantilever member or finger 31 proj ecting therefrom, rwhich finger 31 lies in angular relationship with the adjacent side Wall 21 of theiswtch box. Said finger 31 is provided with the screw-threaded aperture setscrew 33, which, as shown in Figure 4, lies in a line inclined to the adjacent side wall 21.- By turning down the setscrew 33, a jamming relationship may be established between said setscrew 33, the adjacent side wall 21 .and the adjacent leg 2 9, whereby the brid 'ng member 28 may be rigidly secured .avalnst sliding movement. The bridging memeber 28 is preferably sufficiently wide to prevent swinging movement of said swinging member about the region of contact of the setscrew 33 and the side wall of the receptacle. By reason of the construction illustrated and described, adjustment of the bridging member 28 longitudinally of the box or receptacle 11 is readily accomplished.

The central portion of the bridging member 28 is swedged outwardly to form a bellshaped portion 34. The outer extremity of said bell-shaped portion 34 is provided with the tubular portion 35, which is interiorly screw-threaded for the reception of the screw 36. Said screw 36'v is adapted to extend through an aperture 37 in the bracket 14. The numeral 38 indicates an ornamental cap nut adapted to be screwed upon the screw 37 and to exert pressure on the outer side of the rdished portion 15 of the bracket 14, whereby to hold said bracket firmly in position upon the wall.

It will be understood that the present invention provides a receptacle which may be rigidly secured in position upon a wall stud or the like, and which permits a very considerable range of adjustment of the electric xture associated with said box in a direction longitudinally of said box. The present invention has tlie further advantage that brackets 14 having dished portions of varying depths can be securely mounted without the necessity of using screws 36 of different` lengths. Substantially all brackets ywith which applicants are familiar are dished to some extent, equal at least to the extent to which the tubular portion of the bridging member 28 extends beyond the face 13 of the plaster. By reason of the provision of the swedged out portion 34 of the bridging member 28, the practical working range of a screw 36 of predetermined length is increased, it being possible by reason of the present invention to accommodate all wall brackets with which applicants are familiar with one length of screw 36 and still permit a cap nut 38 to exert pressure on the outer side of the wall bracket 14 to hold same rigidly against the wall.

Though a preferred embodiment of the resent invention has been described in detail, 1t will be understood that many modifications will occur lto those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is- 1. In combination, an outlet receptacle having parallel lopposed sidewalls and a bridging member extending across said receptacle, said bridging member having portions slidably supported by said side walls, said walls and said bridging member having interfitting portions disposed along lines parallel with the face of said receptacle for guiding s aid bridging member in a. movement parallel with the face of said receptacle, said bridging member having a sufliciently close fit with said-walls to guide said bridging member in 2 walls, said bridging member having portions a il'ilght line movement parallel with said wa s. 2. In combination, an outlet receptacle hav- 1ng opposed side walls, said side walls bein provided with slots extending arallel wi the face of said receptacle, an a bridging member .extending between said side walls,

said bridging member having portions slid-` ably disposed within said slots andhaving other portions adapted to engage said sidewalls to guide said bridging member in a ri ht line movement in a direction parallel with said walls 'and with the face of s'aid receptacle.

3. In combination, an outlet receptacle having opposed side walls, said side walls be- .V ing provided with slots extending parallel with the face of said rece tacle, and a brid ing member extending tween said si e slidably disposed within said slots, said brid ing member4 having a suiciently close t with said walls whereb adapted to guide said b a right line movement of said receptacle. v 4. In combination, an outlet receptacle having opposed side walls, said side walls being provided with slots extending parallel with the face of said receptacle, and a brid ing member extending between said si e Walls, said bridging member havi ridging member in -fit with said walls` whereb said side walls are adapted to guide said ridging memberl in a `right line movement arallel with the face of said receptacle, said) portions of said bridging member being bent over into substantially parallel relationship with the outer sides of 'said receptacle.

5. An outlet receptacle .having parallel walls; a bridging member extendin between said walls and supported thereby, said bridgf ing member havin -leg (portions disposed parallel with said wa s an adapted to have sliding relationship relative thereto, said walls -and said. leg .portions having portions forguiding said bridging member in a right line `movement parallel with said walls and with i the face of-said receptacle.

v6. An outlet receptacle having) arallel-l walls, a-bridging member extending y tween` tive to said walls.

said sidewalls are parallel with the face portions .slidably disposed within said s ots, said bridging member having a suiciently close 7. outlet receptacle having parallel walls, abrid 'ng member extending between said walls an supported thereby, said bridging member having `leg portions disposed parallel with said walls and adapted to have sliding relationship. relative thereto, said for guiding said bridging memberv in a right line movement arallel with said walls and with the face o saidreceptacle, and a screw carried by said bridging member adapted to have jamming relationshi between one of said walls and one of sai leg portions for holding said brid 'ng member in fixed rela'- tionship with sai walls. e

8. An outlet receptacle having. arallel Vwalls and said leg portions having portions walls, a bridging member extending etween said walls and supported thereby, said bridging member having leg portions disposed parallel with said walls and adapted to have sliding relationship relative thereto, said walls and said leg ortions having portions for guiding said bridging member in a right line movement parallel with said walls and witli the face of said receptacle, said bridging member havin a struck up portion having a screw-threade aperture, theaxis of said screw being angularly disposed relative to\ said side walls,

aperture, a screw in said said screw bein adapted to jam against one of saidside wa ls for'holding said bridging susy member in fixed relationship relative to said side walls.

walls,` a bridging member extending between said walls and supported thereby, said bridg- 9. An outlet receptacle having parallel ing member having leg portions disposed i parallel with said walls and adapted to have sliding relationship relative thereto, said Walls and said leg portions having portions for guiding said bridlg-ilng member in a right line movement aral ith said walls and with the face o said receptacle, said bridg.

ing member Ahaving a. struck up portion having a screw-threaded aperture, a screw. in said aperture, the axis of said screw being iio angularly disposed relative to said side walls,

said screw being adapted to have jamming relationship between one of said walls and one of said leg portions to hold said bridging member. against s'lidingmiovement relative to said walls.

10. An electric 'outlet receptacle having a bridging member slidably supported bg' .opposite parallel walls thereof, said bri ging member having portions interlitting with said receptacle foi` guiding said bridging l member in a right line movement parallel to said opposite walls and with the face of said receptacle, said brid-ging member having an intermediate portion thereof swedged outportion being screwtlireaded. V

11. In combination, an electric outlet receptacle, anelectric wall bracket Supported thereby, lsaid wall bracket having a dished wardly, the outer extremity of said swedged portion adapted to engage the wall of a b ui1ding, said receptacle being provided with a brldging member secured to opposite walls thereof, said bridging member having a central portion thereof swedged outwardly, the outer portion of the swedged out portion being screw-threaded, and extending a material distance beyond the outer face of said receptacle, a screw disposed in said screw-threaded portion and extending through an aperture in said bracket, and a nut disposed upon said screw and exerting pressure upon the outer face of said bracket. f 12. In combination, an outlet receptacle having opposed parallel Walls, a bridging member slidably supported by said Walls, said bridging member and` said walls having 2nterfittingportions for guiding said bridging member in a right line movement parallel to said walls and with the face of said receptacle, said bridging member having an upstruck cantilever @portion and a setscrew threaded into said cantilever portion, said;

setscrew being adapted rto have jamming relationship with one of said Walls and with said bridging member.

18. A bridging member adapted for use in connection with an outlet receptacle having a U-shaped portion, the base of said U-shaped portion having a screw-threaded aperture therein, the legs of said U-shaped 'portion having outwardly extending bendable lugs.

14. A bridging member adapted for use in connection with an outlet receptacle having a U-shaped portion, the base of said U-shaped portion having a screw-threadgd aperture therein, the legs of said U-shaped portion having outwardly extending bendable lugs, the base of said U-shaped portion having a member struck therefrom in angular relation to said base, said struck out member having a screw-threaded lperture extending therethrough.

Signed by CHARLES NEWMAN, at New York,v

New York, the 25th day of June, 1928, and

by ERNST G. APPLETON, at Chicago, Illinois,

this 26th day of June, 1928.

CHARLES NEWMAN. .ERNST G. APPLETON. 

